bright and clear.
Calm and ordered,
an ordinary day,
Michael Enright kept me company after breakfast
over CBC's radio waves.
After lunch the rhythm of the day shifted.
After a pleasant walk through Beacon Hill Park to the opera house,
a friend and I joined a large throng of Sunday afternoon opera goers.
We all gathered in a small gallery,flanked on one side with tall windows.
Context for the opera we later enthusiastically enjoyed was presented with alacrity and humour.
A fascinating introductory historical lecture from Carmen's inception, complete with short piano selections from the play.
One hour later, re-seated and five rows from the orchestra pit at the front of the stage, we chatted, contributing to the conversation that murmured and rippled around us.
In counterpoint, the orchestra tuned and flexed their musical muscles preparing for their supporting role.
Lights dimmed, conversation hushed,
Gold fringed red velvet curtain raised on a busy square
For the next two hours Bizet's initially unheralded story of
Carmen unfolded with amazing musical support
and soaring voices of tenors and sopranos - arias and choruses -
themes of love, jealousy and tragedy
The final curtain came down with the violent death of Carmen,
the beautiful and mercurial heroine.
There was no alternative but end the afternoon with
discussion, fish and chips, coffee and chocolate cake!
“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.”
~ Swedish Proverb
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